In Loving Memory of Zachary Rodger

Zachary Rodger of our April Playroom said goodbye suddenly to his time on earth yesterday after a hard fight trying to battle his heart condition. He was able to spend two precious weeks at home with his mother, father and sister Jassie. My heart is just aching for Zac's family. No words can describe the sadness I feel. Our playroom is just devastated.

Please say a prayer for Mellie, Rodger, Jassie and baby Zac. They need everyone's thoughts and prayers to help them through the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

You will never be forgotten Zac. You have touched so many of us and we love you so very much.

Exciting weekend...

I should be in bed sleeping since Caden just went down for the night, but I wanted to post a few updates. My little man is getting too big so fast. Although my pregnancy feels like a distant memory it feels like I just gave birth yesterday.

Caden has been able to roll over from belly to back only when laying on the couch or bed. He needed a soft cushion to get moving. This past Sunday we were playing on the floor, and I got up to do a few things in the kitchen. He was laying on his back when I got up and when I looked over the counter I saw this:

I couldn't believe it! He is still trying to figure out how to get from his belly to back. Every time I turned him over to his back he kept rolling over. He didn't even mind being on his tummy. He was actually screaming in delight (now that he has discovered his voice).

So we played a little more....

We also tried cereal this weekend. He wasn't so sure about it. I made it way to thin. He was probably wondering why Mommy was trying to feed him milk from a spoon. Today he did a little better. He kept opening his mouth for more, but than made a look of disgust when I got it in his mouth.

Poor little guy is teething pretty bad. He had his cranky pants on all evening. His hands are constantly in his mouth and the drool - he could swim in it! I gave him some Tylenol and helped him chew on his teething rings. I feel so bad for him right now. Just a couple of days ago he was the happiest baby. Hopefully they come through quick so we can get past this. My mom is flying in this week to see Caden :) but I hope he keeps his cranky pants in the closet while she is here.

We also had fun in the exersaucer. He is still too small for it, so I had to put blankets behind and in front of him. He LOVED it! Once he can reach the toys he'll probably want to stay in it for days. It will be nice to have new toys to occupy him every now and then, so Mommy can get some things done around the house.

One year ago today...

One year ago today we got our BFP!! (Big Fat Positive).. I remember waking up at 4ish in the morning because I just couldn't wait to pee on that stick. It came back with 2 red lines and I started to cry. It was a Wednesday morning, so Ryan was off work that day. I went running into the bedroom jumping on the bed to wake him and share the news. He was just as happy as I was, but he was quick to fall back to sleep. (He never has a hard time falling back to sleep) I couldn't sleep, so I just got ready for work. I don't think I accomplished one thing that day. I didn't want to tell anyone right away - I wanted to wait until I was 12 weeks. We told our parents and a couple close friends sooner, but I kept it from everyone at work until about 10 weeks. I just can't believe how fast the last year went. I can't imagine how fast this year will go by now having Caden here in our arms.

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Caden has learned to make this loud pitched noise. It almost sounds like a bird and he won't stop! I'll be feeding him and he just stops, gurgles the milk in the back of his throat and starts making his noise. Once he gets going - watch out. It is SO cute! Ryan and I can't help but laugh. I think he forgets about eating because Mommy and Daddy are gooing over him. Today he started to make raspberries. He made quite a mess with all his spit and drool. We took him to BRU to pick up his 3 month pictures and they came out great. I am really impressed. I just need a few more frames, so Ryan can hang them up. We still have to hang up his 1 month pictures too.

Caden has a sweetheart in our playroom on-line. She is actually my due date buddy's daughter, Alexa. We had a new siggy made and it turned out so stinkin cute! (Thanks again Christa!).. Christa has actually inspired me to learn to make these - it's almost like digital scrap booking. I downloaded a trial version of Paint Pro Shop, but if I could only figure out how to use it. I just ordered PPS for Dummies, so I hope it comes soon.

The Crib Cont....

It's been almost a week and we are still working on the crib saga. Every night I lay him down to sleep, but only lasts 2-3 hours. He wakes up crying to be fed and refuses to go back to sleep until he is upstairs in his playard. I even tried cereal in his bottle, but that didn't help so I stopped. I guess we can only keep working at it and see what happens. We have been putting him in his crib for naps all week and he does great. If only he would sleep through the night.. I can dream can't I?

My mom is flying in a week from today for a visit. I'm looking forward to her visit more than ever! I'm hoping to sneak in a few naps when she is here. I've been deprived of sleep since April ;) Some days are worse than others with the lack of sleep. We'll be trying cereal to help him get used to using a spoon next Thursday. Soon after we'll introduce his first veggie. Maybe once he is on solids he'll start sleeping through the night. Ah,, there I go dreaming again.

Caden is still working on rolling over. He does roll from side to side all the time and occasionally to his belly. He just has a hard time getting from his belly to his back. He is starting to belly laugh when Mommy and Daddy tickle him or blow raspberries on his neck and belly. He has the cutest laugh ever! You can't help but smile.

His gas is SO much better too! I don't think I've heard him cry from gas in over 2 weeks. TG! I sure hope those days are over. I hated seeing him in so much pain. I even ate a piece of pizza and it had no affects on him. (I had to cut out all tomato sauce from my diet). I'm still not overdoing it, but 1 slice here or there won't hurt. Not anymore at least.

Ryan and I are trying to work on letting Caden fall asleep on his own at bedtime. I've heard that rocking your baby to sleep is a hard habit to break later on. We still have to help soothe him for naps most of the time. He has himself on a good night time routine. It's like clockwork (for now that is). On the nights he gets a bath we start at 7pm. By the time he is done with this bath, dressed and everything is cleaned up he is ready for his bottle at 7:30pm. You better be preparing his bottle 5 minutes before or he is going to let you have it. After he eats there is a little play time before he is swaddled for bed. He pretty much falls asleep right after he is swaddled by 8pm. I'm sure next week he'll have a different routine. My sister-in-law always warned me.. just when you learn his schedule and get it down pat - they go and change it on you. She couldn't have been more right!

Night Two...

Thursday night did not work out so well with Caden sleeping in his room. I fell asleep nursing him and when I woke up I just had no energy to bring him downstairs. He woke up several times during the night as usual. I managed to get through Friday. Looking back.. I'm not sure how. I was exhausted beyond belief!

Friday evening roles around and I decided to give him a bottle of formula and gave in to adding a few pinches of cereal. I brought him upstairs to read a book and have some play time. He actually wanted to nurse even after drinking a 4 oz bottle. He nursed for about 20 minutes and he was out cold. I had such a good feeling that he would sleep for at least 4-5 hours. So off to his crib he went. Sleeping like a little angel. I went up to bed around 9:30pm shortly after I put him in his crib.

I woke up hearing him over the monitor crying at 10:30!!! Not even an hour and he was awake. I rocked him back to sleep and gave him his binkie. I did manage to fall asleep, but was awoken by Ryan setting the house alarm as he was walking out the door at 11:30pm. Again, I fell back asleep but woke to Caden crying at 12:30am. I nursed him thinking he was hungry and put him back to sleep in his crib. He woke up again every hour on the hour. I was desperate for sleep, so I brought him upstairs at 2:30am. Didn't work! He still continued to wake up every hour on the hour.

What am I doing wrong? Why won't he sleep? I don't even feel like myself during the day anymore. I'm just too tired....

I'm going to try it again tonight, so we'll see what happens. Wish me luck again!